Ball-player&#39;s training device



June 8, 1948. R. v. FESSLER BALL-PLAYER S TRA INING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 27, 1946 .xgmw

INVENTOR. 305E177 M 1 29x527, BY.

June 8, 1948. R. v. FESSLER BALL-PLAYERS TRAINING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 27, 1946 a m W? M T 2 m w R Z 2&

ATTOFNE'I/T ball. Each strap I3 is associated with its respective cushioning block with the target [4 located at the center of the forward face of the block and '15 the lateral edges of the cushioning block .and into contact with the lateral faces of the standwith the ends l5 of the strap ext'endingalong ard [0, to which they are secured by a plurality of screws IE5. Preferably; the strap ends will be stamped with perforations for the reception of the screws to, which are passed through said perforations and then turned into the body of the standard Ill, as shown. This arrangement makes it easy to remove any individual strap [3 and/or its associated block [2, and to replace the same, without disturbing the componen parts of any of the other target devices.

Inflated bags, or bags filled with fluent material, might be used in place of the blocks l2; but it is my present belief that the best results can be obtained with the rubber blocks illustrated.

Preferably, each block I 2 will be notched at its lower end, as at H, and at its upper end, as at 18, for the accommodation of guard ele ments l9.

At levels spaced above and below the center of each block I2, I prefer to form sockets 20 in the forward face it of the standard. Penetrating the standard from back to front at the center of each such socket is a bore 2| in which may be mounted a bolt 22, the threaded end of said bolt projecting into a socket 23 formed in the rear face of the standard I 0, and there receiving a nut 24 preferably bearing against a washer 25 whereby said bolt may be drawn up tightly upon the standard l0. Thehead 26 of. the bolt 22 is gripped in the reduced end of a coiled spring 2'! which is at least covered with Vulcanized rubber, or similar material. Preferably, I will cast a block 28 of rubber upon and about each spring 21 and the associated head 26 of its bolt 22, in the manner clearly illustrated in Fig. ,3. Such an arrangement somewhat reduces' the flexibility of the guard member l9, while leaving it sufliciently flexible to receive, without substantialgmage, accidental blows delivered against it by practicing batters.

It will be seen that, in order for a practicing. batter to deliver a square blow against a target M, his swing must be flatly horizontal as his bat enters squarely and accurately between the guard elements 19 positioned immediately above and below the selected target area I 4. As is clearly to be seen from an inspection of Fig. 1, the guard elements associated with each target area are spaced apart a distance only. slightly greater than the diameter of a standard baseball.

Preferably, but not absolutely necessarily, the standard I 0 will be braced by struts 29, 29 secured to the upper end of the standard and inclining outwardly and downwardly therefrom to anchorages upon posts 30, 30. 'I prefer to insert a turnbuckle 3| in each strut 29 in orderto facilitate the mounting of the assembly.- 7

The device as thus far described is completely operative to assist in the training of baseball players; but added interest can be provided by arranging the mechanism so that an audible or visible signal will be actuated when, and only when, a true, square, forceful blow is delivered accurately against the center of a selected target. To that end, I mount a signal and signalactuating mechanism upon a plate or carrier 32 readily 'removably secured to that face ofthe standard In opposite the forward face thereof. Preferably, said plate will be formed with open- .ings registering with lag screws 33 or the like .embedded in the rear face of the standard l0,

' and wing nuts '33, cooperable with the protruding portions of said lag screws, may be turned down to fasten said carrier firmly to the standard.

Supported in vertically spaced brackets 35, 35

carried onsaid plate 32 is a vertical rod 36 upon which is slidably mounted a clapper 3'! for cooperation with a bell 38 mounted at a point near the top of the rod 38. The clapper 31 is urged by gravity intoengagement with an end 39 of a lever 49 pivotally mounted at H upon the carrier 32, so that the lever arm normally supports said clapper 37. A spring 42 preferably hasone end secured to the lever arm 39 and its other end anchored at 43 to the carrier 32, as is clearly to be seen in Fig. 2.

At the level of each target area I l, and coaxially therewith, an opening 44 is formed transversely of the standard and the cushioning means, and a pin'45, having a head 46 in contact with the rear surface of the target area of the strap I3, is'

received in the outer end of that portion of said opening through the cushioning block. Aspring i 41, likewise received in the opening 44, is interposed'between the pin 45 andasecond pin 48,]

likewise disposed in said opening. 44, and terminating in anenlarged flat head 59. The carrier 32 is formed with a series of openings 50, each of which registers, when fthe carrier is secured to the standard, with one of the open ings 44.

A ribbon 5|, which will preferably be made of spring steel, has its upper end secured to the carrier 32 at a point above the uppermost opening 50', extends downwardly across all of said openings,in association withthe open mouths of the openings 44, and carries at its lower end a projection 52' to which is secured one end of a spring 53 whose other end is anchored, at 54, to the carrier 32 at a point below the lowermost of the openings 50. Obviously, the spring 53 resists upward movement of the lower end ofthe ribbon 5| As is clearly to be seen upon inspection of Fig. 2, the spring ,42 resiliently holds the lever arm 39 in engagement with the upper surface of the projection 52. g

The ribbon 5| is held in contact with thecara rier 32and with the heads 49 of the pins 48 bymeans of rollers 55, mounted in brackets 56,

59 on opposite sides of the ribbon and suitably assembly, so that a relatively small component of In j'such a "contingency? the 5 the by idriving'that portion of said ribbon engagedby the head. '4 Sfof "the "pin 48' drawing the "lower end offsaid'" ribbon force fullyupward'; through a considerable magnitude rearwardly and of movement; against the" tendency of the spring 53f. i Such movement "of the lower end of the ribbon 5 I "will cause a sudden; forceful swing of" the le'ver'arm' :3 9 afclockwise direction", thereby imparting an upward momentum to the'clapper 31;"so' that'a bloWjufsuffibieht force will cause' the"c1app'er.f311 to travel upwardly along the rod Sli'hntil it strikes the bell 38' to signal a good," clean blow delivered against'the selected target. I have found that .a tremendous; amount of force'can thus'be transmittedto' the clapper "31; so that the'bell 38"m'ay bemounted aconsider able distance above the lower end of the ribbon" 5 l'. In practical prefer to mount thebell 38 near"- th'e'top of the standard, so that'a verystrong and cleanblow must'be delivered in order to actuate the signal. However','if desired (for instance, for use inamusement parksand' the like), the bell 38*"m'ay be mounted near the bottom of the standardfas indicated in Fig." 1.

Other devices maybeusedfor'actuatingany desired 'type'i'ofsignal, but'it ises'sential'; to the accomplishment of my intended functions, that the primary actuating means; through which the efftofthe' batters' blow is transmitted'to' the signal deviceshall' be of such character'that" thesignalmeans will not be actuated unless "substa'ntiallytthe entireforce of the-blow is delivered to the target? centrally and on a line substan'--" tially normal to thetargetsurface.

I claim as my invention:

1. In adeVic'ie "of the "character described, a

spring membe standard; cushioningmeans onone substantially vertical faceof' said standard, and guard means projecting substantially horizontally" from said fa'cejsaid guard means beingvertically spacedapart a"distancejohly slightly greaterthan thediameteri of a standard baseball.

2.""In""a' devicebfthe character" descr'ibedfa standard, cushioning means 'on' one substantially verticaY-face of said standard, and guard means projecting substantially horizontally from saidface," said guard -means being vertically spaced apart-a distance only slightly greater than the diameter of'a standard baseball, and having--an extent from said cushioningmea'ns at least-twice the-diameten ofa standard baseball;'-

3; In 'a-deviceof-the --character described;--a vertical" standard,- -cushioning means onasub stantiallwverti'ca'lface of'saidstandard; said cushioning means "be'ng located-' at a level above theba se'ofsaid' standard-"between the knees and shoulders-eta man standing at the level oisaid base;'-' having a horizontal dimension slightly greater "than the diameter of '-a standard base-' ball and having avertical "dimension slightly greater" than the diameter of a--standard baseball, and guard means-projecting--horizontally forward from said cushioning means at the upper and lower-boundaries of saia-eushibnmg. means: i

4. 1m -a' deviee or tn cnara'eten described at tandardg :cusniening means on a airvertieau faee of said standard -said cushion-i w base oi said standard betweeif the kiieesmn shoulders bf base}- having greater than the' diameter ofza standard ba'seball and -havihg-a-vertica dimension slightly greateryield ableQ 'guar d forward :nem said oushioniirg means at the upper and lowei boundarie's of' 'said 1 cushioning means.-

5. Ina device of the vemeanstandara; cushioning means on a substantiaii vertical i cushioning means 10 the base of Said- StandarE'btW .yshoulder's of a man standinga base? having greater than the yieldable guard "means "preje forward "from said cu'shioiling "means 5 at the upperi'and lower b unda'r'ie's' ;offsaid*cushi ngm'eahs', each of said guardm'eans compris'i stifi spring memberencas'e 3O material. x a

6., Iria device of the character described, a I 1 cushioning .mean-s ion a sub stantially vertical face ofFsaid"standard,- 'said-"' cushioning means'being located at a'level above the base of said standard between th'ekneesand shoulders" of a man standing at'the level of said base, havingi, a horizontal dimension" slightly of a standard baseball and having a vertical dimension 'slig'htly greater i 40 than the diameter of a stan vertical standard;

greater than thediamete'r dard baseball, andyieldable' guard means projecting horizontally forwardfrom said cushioning means at'the upper and lower boundaries of said cushioning means; each of said" guard means" comprising 'a stiff r encased in rubber. I

7. -In a device of the character described, a vertical standard, cushioning means on a substantially vertical face fof fsaidfstandard; said" cushioning means beingfilo'cated at'a levelabo've the base :or said standard between the' knees and shoulders of a mansta'ndin'g atfthfe 'levelbf said base, having a] her I greater than the'diaineter'offastandard baseball ,and having .a vertical dimension f'slightly' greater guard means rompting horizontally" forward from said cushiohin'gfmeahsfat th'efluppernnd lowenboundaris oflsaid cushioning-means; each" of said-guard means comprisingfaeb'iled spring I bodily lenclo'sed in a mock" of rubber.

8. In ;a device o f the] charactendescribed, a" vertical standard-cushioning means ononeve'r-l tical face- 10f said standard and extending "from a level:belowr-that oi? the kneesmf Qa short'ni'an standing onthe level of the base of said stand ard-to-a level above theshoulders of a tall man standing on the-level of said base, means establishing-a plurality 0ft visible-targets-on the forwardlyresented face 1 of said I cushioning mean-s, each ofsaidtar-gets havingthe "diameter ofxaistandard baseball, andguard means -projecting' horizontallm forwardly .irom lsaid cush ioninglaneansvabdve andbelow -each target ad 75; jacentones:of-;said iguard means -beingwertically g meansbeing located at a level above aman-"standmg ae the level of said l a horizontal" dimension 1 slightly character described? a aceofsaid Stanttard',- said 1 lr'ig located at a level above 1 een' the kn'e'es and t the le v'l 0f'Sa1d-' a horiaonta-l Yf dimension slightly diameter of a standard --b'asebal1- and naving--a" vertical dimension slight-lyg'reater than-the diameter ofa "standardbaseball; and: cting horizonta1ly"'-' i'zontal "dimension slightly "than -therdiameter ef 'a standard baseballfan'df spaced apart a distanceonly slightly greater than the diameter of a standard'baseball.

9. In, a, device ofthe character describedra standard, cushioning means on one substantially vertical face of said standard, and guard means projecting substantially horizontally from said face, said guard means being vertically spaced apart a distance only slightly greater than the diameter of a standard baseball, said cushioning means comprising a horizontally resilient element and a covering of tough, rubberized fabric overlying that face of said element remote from said standard, extending past both lateral surfaces of said element, and having its ends fixed to said standard.

10. In a device of the character described, a standard, cushioning means on one substantially vertical face of said standard, anda series of guard members projecting horizontally forwardly from said standard beyond said cushioning means, each of said guard members being vertically spaced from each adjacent guard member a distance only slightly greater than the diameter of a standard baseball, said cushioning means comprising a horizontally resilient element and a strap of tough, rubberized fabric overlying that face of said element remote from said standard, extending past both lateral surfaces of said element, and having its ends fixed to said standard, each of said straps being positioned between a pair of adjacent guard members and being removable from said standard without disturbing any other of said straps.

11. In a device of the character described, a

standard, cushioning means on one substantially vertical face of said standard and carrying target means, guard means projecting substantially horizontally from said face beyond said target means and vertically spaced above and below said target means, said guard means being spaced apart a distance only slightly greater than the diameter of a standard baseball, signal means,

and means associated with said target means and operable, when said target means is squarely and forcefully struck, 'to actuate said signal means.

12. In a device of the character described, a standard, cushioning means on one substantially vertical face of said standard and carrying target means, guard means projecting substantially horizontally from said face beyond'said target means and vertically spaced above and below said target means, said guard means being spaced apart a distance only slightly greater than the diameter of a standard baseball, signal means carried on said standard, laterally and axially yieldable means horizontally penetrating said' standard, and having a portion located at the center of said target means, and means providing an operative connection between said yieldable means and said signal means to actuate said signal means when a blow is squarely and forcefully delivered against said target means.

13. In a device of the character described, a standard, cushioning means on one substantially vertical face of said standard and carrying target means, guard means projecting substantially horizontally from said face beyond said target meansand vertically spaced above and below said target means, said guard means being spaced apart a distance only slightly greater than the diameter of a standard baseball, signal means carried on said standard, an element movable to actuate said signal means, a ribbon having one end securedto the face of said standard opposite the first-named face thereof at a point vertically removed from the level of the center of said target means and extending to a point oppositely vertically removed from said level, spring means anchoring the other end of said ribbon to said standard and resiliently resisting movement of said other end toward said first-named end of said ribbon, laterally and axially yieldable means penetrating said standard and having one end located at the center of said target means,

and its other end abutting said ribbon intermediate the ends of said ribbon, and means providing an operative connection between the last-l named end of said ribbon and said element,

14. In a device of the character described,".a

standard, cushioning means on one substantially vertical'face of said standard and carrying taret means, said standard and said cushioning means being formed with a continuous opening therethrough upon an axis substantially normal to the plane of said target, guard means projecting substantially horizontally from said face beyond said target means and vertically spaced above and below said target means, said "guard I axis, covering that end of said opening, remote from said target and extending to a point oppositely vertically removed from said level, spring means anchoring the other end of said ribbon to said standard and resiliently resisting movement of said other end toward said first-named.

end of said ribbon, a pin reciprocally mounted in said opening and having its outer end located at the center of said target, a second pin reciprocably mounted in said opening with itsinner end axially spaced from said first-named pin and its outer end engaging said ribbon, a spring con fined between said pins, and means providing an operative connection between the last-named end of said ribbon and said element.

15. In a device of the character described, a

standard, cushioning means on one substantially vertical face of said standard and presenting a plurality of vertically-spaced target areas, guard means associated with each target area, and projecting substantially horizontally forwardly beyond said cushioning means above and below each target area, an opening through :said standard and cushioning means upon an axis substantially normal to the plane of said one face of said,

standard and coaxial with the center of each target area, signal means carried on said standard, an element movable to actuate said signal means, a ribbon having one end secured to the face of saidstandard opposite said one face at a point,

above the uppermost of said openings and extending across the adjacent open mouths of all of said openings, spring means anchoring thev other end of said ribbon to said standard at a point below the lowermost of said openings and resisting upward movement of said. other end of said ribbon, laterally and axially yieldable means located in each of said openings, each extending from the center of its associated target area to said ribbon, and means providing an operative connection between the lower of said ribbon and said element.

16. In a device of the character described, a

standard, cushioning means, on one substantially" vertical face of said standard and presenting a plurality of vertically-spaced target areas, guard means associated with each target area, and projecting substantially horizontally forwardly beyond said cushioning means above and below each target area, an opening through said standard and cushioning means upon an axis substantially normal to the plane of said one face of said standard and coaxial with the center of each target area, a vertical rod carried adjacent that face of said standard opposite said first-named face, a bell mounted near the upper end of said rod, a clapper slidably mounted on said rod, a ribbon having one end secured to said last-named face of said standard at a point above the upper most of said openings and extending across the adjacent open mouths of all of said openings near said rod, spring means anchoring the other end of said ribbon to said standard at a point below the lowermost of said openings and resist" ing upward movement of said other end of said ribbon, laterally axially yieldable means lo-- cated in each of said openings, each extending from the center of its associated target area to said ribbon, a lever pivotally carried on the last-named face of said standard and normally supporting said clapper, and means providing an operative connection between said last-named end of said ribbon and said lever to swing said lever upwardly when said last-named ribbon end is moved upwardly.

17. In a device of the character described, a standard, cushioning means on one substantially vertical face of said standard and carrying target means, guard means projecting substantially horizontally from said face beyond said target means and vertically spaced above and below said target means, a carrier, means readily removably securing said carrier to that face of said standard opposite said first-named face, signal means mounted on said carrier, and means associated with said target means and with said signal means, when said carrier is mounted on said standard, and operable, when said target means is squarely and forcefully struck, to actuate said signal means.

18. The organization of claim 17 in which said last-named means is laterally and axially yieldable.

lii. In a device of the character described, a standard, cushioning means on one substantially vertical face of said standard and presenting a plurality of vertically'spaced target areas, guard means associated with each target area and projecting substantially horizontally forwardly beyond said cushioning means above and below each target area, an opening through said standard and cushioning means upon an axis substantially normal to the plane of said one face of said standard and coaxial with the center of each target area, a carrier, means readily removably securing said carrier to that face of said stand.- ard opposite said first-named face, said carrier being formed with openings therethrough registering, when said carrier is secured to said standard, with said openings through said standard, signal means carried on said carrier, an element supported on said standard and movable relative thereto to actuate said signal means, a ribbon having one end secured to said carrier at a point above the uppermost of said carrier openings and extending across all of said carrier openings, spring means anchoring the other end of said ribbon to said carrier at a point below the lowermost of said carrier openings and resisting upward movement of said other end of said ribbon, laterally and axially yieldable means located in each of said standard openings, each extending from the center of its associated target area to said ribbon, and means providing an operative connection between the lower end of said ribbon and said element.

20. The organization of claim 16 including a carrier, means readily removably securing said carrier to that face of said standard opposite the first-named face thereof, and in which said carrier is formed with openings registering, when said carrier is secured to said standard, with said openings through said standard, and said rod, bell, clapper, ribbon, spring means, and lever are supported on said carrier.

ROBERT V. FESSLER. 

